MESSAGE

       FROM THE

    WORD

                                      ADVICE TO SLAVES AND MASTERS   

                                                       Colossians 3:22-4:1

SERIES:  Colossians                                                                                          Message # 23

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.  So says the Declaration of Independence.  That has not always been the reality in our nation.  When our nation won its independence, slavery was a reality and its influence could not be ignored.  There were many who signed the Declaration and the Constitution who wanted slavery abolished.  However, because it had become a part of the life of the South, this was not a possibility.  Because the Constitution had to be approved by ¾ of the existing states, there would either be slavery in a portion of the one union, or there would be two nations.  In one of those nations, slavery would always exist.  The founders decided to compromise and wrote into the Constitution that slaves would count as 3/5 of a vote.  This sounded awful and it was.  However, it was better than the alternative, which was to give the south the right to count slaves as a whole vote.  Because the slave owners would have voted for the slaves, the south would have had a greater number of members in the House of Representatives, which would have allowed them to control the debate on slavery legislation.  Of all of the problems our nation has faced and battled, none was worse than slavery.  Its consequences are still with us today. 

Making our way through the Colossian letter, we come to                       COLOSSIANS 3:18-4:1        It is not an easy passage to deal with, so I want to give you a study on the Bible and slavery.  We will then see if we can apply this passage to our lives.

Slavery has been a part of the known world throughout history.  It was rarely a racial issue; it was usually a war issue.  When you won a war, a portion of the spoils of that war was the enslavement of the people you conquered.  Daniel is a good example of this policy.  By the time of Rome, half of the world’s population were slaves.  Remember that the Bible is not primarily a political action manual.  It is a life manual.  The issue with the Bible was not to demand the abolition of slavery.  To make such a demand would have been ignored.  The issue was, living in a world in which slavery existed, how do we treat each other?  How should Christian slave owners act?  How should Christian slaves act? 

The slave trade in our nation began in 1619 when slaves were introduced into Virginia by a Dutch ship heading for the area of New Amsterdam.  This later became New York and that state became one of the leading importers of slaves.  By 1700 there were about 20-30,000 slaves in the colonies and it was an entrenched institution.  The American colonies were not major importers of slaves.  Less than 10% of the slaves from Africa ended up in the colonies.  Of the approximately 12 million slaves brought to the New World from Africa,

4 million went to Brazil

2.5 million went to Spanish colonies

2 million went to the British West Indies

1.6 million went to French West Indies

 .5 million came to the colonies.

Many of the founders of our nation fought for the abolition of slavery.  Several colonies even passed laws before our independence was gained and saw those laws overturned by King George III in England.  Some of our founders were slave owners through inheritance, and saw it as a blight on their character.  Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson freed their slaves in their wills.  Four events lead up to the war, which ended slavery.  1) Beginning around 1800, England began to restrict and eventually outlaw slavery.  Led by the godly William Wilberforce who spent his life fighting for the abolition of slavery, England finally outlawed slavery in total in the 1830’s.  2) The Supreme Court ruled that the slaves in the ship Amestad were free people.  This story made into a movie by Steven Spielberg, involved the story of slaves brought to the new world.  They rebelled, took over the ship, landed on American soil and sued for their freedom.  After years in the courts, John Quincy Adams argued convincingly for their release and the court agreed.  3) About 25 years later, that same court, in the worst decision in court history, then ruled that Dred Scott could not sue for his freedom because slaves were non human and had no legal rights.  4) Abraham Lincoln became president in 1860 on a platform that promised to end slavery.  The southern states succeeded soon after beginning the Civil War.

During this terrible time in our history several events demonstrated Lincoln’s desire to end slavery.  In 1863, Lincoln signed into law the Emancipation Proclamation, which states, “…And by virtue of the power and the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated states and parts of states are, and henceforth shall be, free…”  In an amazing conclusion, Lincoln wrote, “…And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God”.  In essence, that presidential edict overturned the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision.  He did it because he felt this was God’s will.  Because some did not believe a president could overturn the Supreme Court decision, Congress passed the 13^th amendment.  Lincoln then signed the amendment.  A Constitutional Amendment does not get a presidential signature.  When congress passes a Constitutional Amendment, it does not need to be signed into law.  However, Lincoln signed it anyway, the only time in our history in which this was done.  On the passing of the 13^th Amendment, Congress invited the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett to be the first Black American in history to address a joint session of Congress.  He spoke, interestingly enough on Feb. 12, 1865.  No Democrats attended his sermon.  Lincoln’s second inaugural address states as forcefully as did Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech God’s view on the subject.                          READ LINCOLN 2^ND ADDRESS

What does the Bible have to say about slavery?  Because the Bible addresses the issues of the heart, the Bible is not silent on this subject.  What sort of slavery was allowed?

1.                             Voluntary servitude by fellow Jews.  We referred to this as indentured servants in our history books.  Ex. 21:2-6; Deut. 15:12-18  This could only be for a short period of time.

2.                             Voluntary permanent slaves.  At the end of the time for voluntary servitude, an individual could decide he wanted to stay with his master.  Ex. 21:2-6

3.                             A thief or criminal making restitution.  Debtor’s prisons were actually forbidden.  The issue was to pay back the debt owed, so you worked your debts off.  Ex. 22:1,3

4.                             Pagans captured in war could become permanent slaves.

The Bible also lists restrictions on slavery, most of which were violated in our nation.

1.                             Slaves could not be taken against their will.  Anyone who kidnapped another and forced them into involuntary slavery received the death penalty.  Ex. 21:16; Deut. 24:7

2.                             Any slave who ran away from his master was to be welcomed by the people of Israel.  One reason for this was to show their solidarity because of Egypt.  Deut. 23:15:16  The only exception to this was a slave who escaped so as not to repay a debt.

3.                             Slaves were free after six years.  Their payment of debt was finished. 

4.                             Freed slaves were to be given financial reward when they left.  Deut. 15:12-15

5.                             Excessive punishment was illegal.  A slave could be struck with a rod, but if punishment was excessive, the slave was freed.  If a slave’s tooth was knocked out, he was freed from his obligation.  Ex. 21:26,27; Lev. 24:17

6.                             Slaves could become a part of God’s covenant.  They could be circumcised and eat the Passover meal with the family.  Ex. 12:43-44

7.                             Masters were required to allow their slaves to rest on the Sabbath. 

8.                             Master’s were to treat their slaves with dignity.

9.                             If a master only had one coat, he had to give it to his slave. 

               Slavery was such in Israel that slave owners had to consider the welfare of their slave above that of their own.  In addition to that, the admonition to “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF…” extended over into the slave-master relationship.  The truth was, slavery in Israel ended because it wasn’t worth the hassle.

That brings us to slavery in the New Testament, which was totally different than found among the people of Israel.  By the time the New Testament was written, Rome ruled the known world.  Rather than take the best of a conquered culture and bring that group to Rome, they decided to conquer and occupy.  By the time Jesus was born, half of the world lived as a slave to Rome.  In our passage, Paul gives five principles for being a godly slave and two principles on how to be a good master.  The key to understanding what the Bible teaches is found in advice to both the slave and the master.  We read,         VERSE 24b; 4:1b             When everything is said and done Paul wanted to remind both the slave and the master that a Christian slave is not really a slave and a Christian master is not really a master.  They may have different roles in life, but they are both slaves to God and stand equal before Him.  What advice did Paul give slaves?  Since we do not have slave-master relationships in our culture, lets apply this to the workplace.

            First, we see our obedience.  This goes so much against what would be human wisdom.  You would expect the counsel to be “demand your rights”, “rise up”, “freedom”.  He doesn’t do that at all.  Rather he counseled slave to be good slaves.  The reason for this is pretty clear.  Christian slaves had an eternal world-view and wanted their master’s to come to Christ.  Demanding their rights would cause the master to react against the Lord.  It was better for a believer to be a slave and influence a master for Christ, than to be a master and have a poor witness to a slave. 

            Second, is a call to sincerity.  Don’t simply pretend to serve your master, do it as if you were serving Jesus.  Whoever God gives you to serve, do so with a sincere heart.  This was the example of Christ.  We read                    PHIL. 2:5-8                    Jesus did not come to Earth and pretend to be a servant.  He came to be a servant.  This is our model and one which we need to follow.

            Third, is our obligation for reverence.  Paul tells slaves and workers that we should be “FEARING THE LORD…”  Isn’t it interesting that we are not told to fear our master, or fear our boss.  When we walk in the fear of the Lord, everything else is under His control.  If this concept is new to you, the fear of the Lord is a familiar concept in the scriptures.  We read PROV. 1:7           The fear of the Lord is not paranoia of God.  The fear of the Lord is the understanding that God is in control of everything and He sees, hears, and knows everything you do and will hold you accountable.  Here is how it works out.  You are at work and the boss asks you to cheat or lose your job.  If you fear the boss, you cheat.  If you fear God, you put up with the boss and allow God to handle this situation for His best.  Daniel was told to eat food which violated his conscience and he became Prime Minister.  James was told to stop preaching, refused and lost his life.  God honored both men.  We read                 ACTS 9:31             When you walk in the fear of the Lord, things don’t always turn out like you want, but you experience His peace.

            Fourth, we need to have perspective.  We read       VERSES 23, 24          It is easy to see life on a purely human plane.  Paul wanted to remind these believers that even if they were slaves, their master was God and they were to please Him.  If you have an unreasonable boss, work hard for him because it pleases God.  Are your parents unreasonable?  Serve them with a grateful attitude and please the Lord.  Whatever you do, do it for the Lord because it is Him who will reward you.  Your work should never be about how much you make.  Your income is important because it is how you accomplish the other things God tells you to do.  However, the primary reason for your vocation is to make Him pleased with you and pleasing to others whom you work with.

            Fifth, we are told a warning.  God rewards those who please Him.  However, we also need to understand the other side.  We read           verse 25           The slave or the employee who refuses to do what is right will be punished.  This sometimes puts believers in a bind.  Christians in Europe were killed for harboring Jews, which violated the Nazi laws.  Here is the principle.  In every way possible, obey your master.  There is no “I don’t want to”.  There is God’s command.  The only exception is when it violates a specific command of God. 

            Slaves are given four verses to explain God’s will for their life.  The advice to masters is all wrapped up into one verse.  We read                       COLOSSIANS 4:1             Simply put, masters are given two responsibilities.

            First, treat slaves properly.  In a world in which slaves were property to do with as the owner desired, the New Testament required masters to treat their slaves with honor and respect.  If this verse had been practiced in our nation, the slave industry would have ceased.

            Second, keep life in perspective.  It is the same advice he gave to slaves.  You may be the boss here, but you are a slave to God.  The words of Jesus to “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU” are very appropriate in this context.  In other words, Paul is calling for those who are the controllers of other people’s lives to be humble and compassionate.  Do not abuse your authority.  It is a critical thought for us in the body of Christ.

            There were terrible injustices performed in our nation over the period of slavery.  It was a tragic period and one which could have been solved had Christians truly desired to study God’s word to seek His advice.  It is also important to remember that the vast number of abolitionists were men and women of the scriptures.

            You may find yourself in what you see as a slave-master relationship.  It could be a marriage relationship.  It could be a parent-child relationship.  It could be a job situation.  This passage helps us understand how God wants us to respond to whatever position we find ourselves in life.

            This message is from the teaching ministry of Glen Jackson, pastor of Faith Christian Church in Simi Valley, CA.